The Perfect Imposter

Impoverished modiste Katrina Sinclair is pinning her hopes on the new wardrobe she’s created for her childhood friend Julia, now the marchioness of Lanarkshire, to wear at a summer house party. But Julia has plans of her own: she wants Katrina, who looks just like her, to pretend to be her while she goes off on some secret business. Desperate to promote her fashions, Katrina agrees. Unfortunately for Katrina, Julia’s former suitor Leo Kincade is also attending the party, and events are further complicated by an extremely dangerous figure from Katrina’s past. The male characters are focused on their own concerns, particularly bedding women with or without consent, and the female characters are thinly drawn passive victims. Writing mostly straight dialogue that gives little insight into the characters’ feelings, Soliman’s Regency stretches believability and mashes elements into a choppy story that lacks energy. (Apr.)